Saturday April 27
We left the Friday Harbor slip heading north with a report of Orcas in the area but no one was exactly sure where.
With an optimistic group of guests, Captain Brian, Naturalist Andrew and myself eventually traveled west to see what we could find. After crossing Haro strait to the Canadian side we finally received word that Orcas were spotted in south Haro Strait. We arrived to find a small group of Orcas that had surrounded a Northern (Steller) Sea Lion. These were Transient Orcas known as the T49A and T49B group, about 7 whales.
Transient Orcas in the Salish Sea primarily target the easier to catch Harbor Seal or the Harbor Porpoise but every so often they will go after the much larger and powerful Northern Sea Lion.
We watched for over an hour as the family of Orcas continued harass and attack the male sea lion by slamming their bodies against the sea lion until exhaustion over took the unfortunate pinniped.
Eventually we had to start heading back to the harbor but needless to say we were all abuzz from witnessing such an incredible spectacle.
Transient Orcas do go after sea lions from time to time but this was only the second in 15 years I've witness it.
Wow! What an experience.
Naturalist Kevin